US EPA spearheads studies on effectiveness of R2 and e-Stewards certifications

ALBANY (Scrap Monster): The US Federal government under the leadership of US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is reportedly conducting a detailed study on the effectiveness of various certifications applicable to e-waste recycling businesses. The study focuses primarily on the two certification standards-R2 and e-Stewards.

The study is aimed to assess the transparency and consistency of the standards implemented by various industry participants. The study is 80% completed and is expected to complete by this fall. As part of the study, key electronic recycling stakeholders will be interviewed and the certification audits by registrars will be studied in detail to determine whether the certification standards are yielding desired results.

Recently, the US Federal government’s e-waste recycling programs had come under severe criticism by the Basel Action Network (BAN). The group had stated that the US government continues to follow weakest recycling standards. It also has not put any restriction on export of hazardous e-waste to developing countries-mainly in Asia and Africa.

The US EPA is expected to develop a draft set of criteria to address the environmental aspects of electronics reuse and recycling.